Container with dispensing hopper means and blanks for making the same



June 29, 1965 M. 'r. FARQUHAR ETAL 3,191,818

CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEANS AND BLANKS FOR MAKING THE SAME 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 FIG.I

INVENTORS MELVILLE 'l'. FARQUHAR MAURICE F. NAGLE EDWARD T. BRYANT FIGSBY M/ Z4W kwwo THEIR ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 M. -r. FARQUHAR ETAL3,191,818

CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEANS AND BLANKS FOR MAKING THE SAMEFiled Feb. 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTORS MELVILLE I FARQUHARMAURICE E NAGLE EDWARD T. BRYANT THEIR ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 M. -r.FARQUHAR EIAL 3,191,813

CDNTAINER WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEAN$ AND BLANKS FOR MAKING THE SAME 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 lNVENTORS MELVILLE T. FARQUHARMAURICE F. NAGLE EDWARD T. BRYANT THEIR ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 M. 'r.FARQUHAR ETAL 3,191,313

CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING HOPPER AND BLANKS FOR MAKING THE S MEANS AME 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 14, 1963 INVENTORS l MELVILLE T. FARQUHARMAURICE F. NAGLE EDWARD T. BRYANT THEIR ATTORNEYS United States PatentC) 3,191,818 CONTAINER WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEANS AND BLANKS FORMAKING TIE SAME Melville T. Farquhar, Chesterfield County, Maurice F.

Nagle, Henrico County, and Edward T. Bryant, Bon

Air, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmend, Va., acorporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 258,549 6 Claims.(Cl. 222-457) This invention relates to an improved container havingdispensing hopper means as well as two improved blanks for forming sucha container or the like.

It is well known that it is desirable to provide an attractive containerwhich is adapted to be utilized as a display means for the articlespackaged therein and which can be utilized to readily dispense sucharticles to the ultimate consumers.

For example, most restaurants and the like normally have disc-shapedafter dinner mints located at the cashiers counter and some means mustbe provided for displaying such mints so that the customers can purchasethe same.

Accordingly, one of the features of this invention is to provide acontainer which is readily adapted to package for transportation andstorage purposes such after dinner mints and the like wherein suchcontainer can be subsequently utilized for displaying and dispensingsuch mints to the ultimate consumer without requiring special displayingmeans.

For example, one embodiment of this invention comprises a containerhaving wall means provided with an Opening that is opened and closed bya hopper portion, the hopper portion when in the opened positionpermitting the contents of the container to be readily viewed andpermitting the contents to be dispensed to the ultimate consumer.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontainer having one or more of the novel features of this invention asset forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved blank forforming such a container or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the improvedcontainer of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the container ofFIGURE 1 in its opened position.

FIGURE 3 is an axial, cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the improved blank of this invention forforming the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating one method offorming the container of FIGURE 1 from the blank of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating another container ofthis invention.

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating the container ofFIGURE 7 in its opened position.

FIGURE 9 is an axial, cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a plan View of an improved blank of this invention forforming the container of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating one method forforming the container of FIG- URE 7 from the container blank of FIGURE10.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedas being particularly adaptable for forming a container for displayingand dispensing after dinner mints or the like, it is to be understoodthat the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or inany combination thereof to provide structures for other articles asdesired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises aplurality of side wall means 21, 22, 23 and 24, a bottom wall means 25and a top wall means 26 formed in a manner hereinafter described toprovide a substantially rectangular container 20.

The front side Wall means 21 of the container 20 is provided with anopening 27 extending from the bottom wall means 25 to an edge 28 of thewall means 21 spaced from the top edge thereof, the opening 27 extendingto the adjacent side wall means 22 and 24.

A hopper means or portion 29 is carried by the con.

tainer 20 and is adapted to completely close the opening 27 thereof inthe manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and be moved to an opened position asillustrated in FIG- URE 2 to provide dispensing means for the contentsof the container 20 disposed in the compartment 30 thereof, the contentsof the container tending to spill out of the compartment 30 when thehopper means 29 is opened in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.However, the opened hopper means 29 prevents the contents of thecontainer 2% from spilling out of the opening 27 thereof so that thecontents of the container can be readily viewed through the openedhopper means 29 and can be dispensed therefrom by the ultimate consumermerely reaching into the filled hopper means 29 and removing the desiredarticle or articles.

Because the hopper means 29 is disposed adjacent the bottom of thecontainer 20, the opened hopper means 29 always remains full as takenarticles are replaced by other articles falling through the opening 27whereby the dispensing carton 20 always gives the appearance of beingfreshly opened to enhance the sales appeal of the contents of thecontainer 20.

When the container 20 is initially formed and filled with the desiredarticles, the hopper means 29 is disposed in the closed position asillustrated in FIGURE 1 and can be retained in the closed position byinitially disposing a band or sleeve around the container 20.

For example, a transparent and tubular overwrap 31 can be utilized asillustrated in FIGURE 1 to hold the hopper means 29 in its closedposition until it is desired to open the hopper means 29 whereby theoverwrap 31 can be removed and discarded.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improvedcontainer 29 which is adaptedto package the desired articles for storageand shipment purposes and, thereafter, be utilized as an attractivedisplaying and dispensing means for the contents thereof.

While the container 29 of this invention can be formed of any suitablematerial and in any suitable manner, the embodiment thereof illustratedin the drawings is formed from a container blank of this invention thatis generally indicated by the reference numeral 32 in FIGURE 5.

The container blank 32 is formed from cardboard or the like having theexterior surface thereof decorated in any suitable manner, such as byhaving a sheet of aluminorm-containing foil or the like laminatedthereto.

The container blank 32 is suitably cut and scored to define a series offoldably connected walls 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively foldablyconnected together at score or fold lines 37, 38 and 39, the walls 33-36respectively being adapted to form the side wall means 22, 21, 24 and 23of the container 29.

An interconnecting flap 40 is foldably connected to the free Side edgeof the wall 33 at a score or fold line 41, the interconnecting flap 40being adapted to be glued to the inside surface at the free edge of thewall 36 to hold the walls 33-36 in the rectangular and tubular formillustrated in FIGURE 1.

A pluralityof top closure flaps 42, 43 and 44 are respectively die cutfrom each other and are respectively foldably connected to the top edgesof the walls 33, 34 and 35 at the score or fold line 45, the top closureflaps 42 and 44 being substantially identical and being adapted to bedisposed under the top closure fiapAS that is adapted to span the topopen end of the container 26 and has an insertable tongue portion 46foldably connected thereto at a score or fold line 47 to complete thetop wall means 26 of the container 24 in the conventional manner.

A pair of bottom fiaps 48 and 49 are respectively foldably'connected tothe bottom edges of the walls 33 and 35 at the score or fold lines and51, the bottom flaps 48 and 49 each being adapted to respectively spanthe bottom of the container 29.

The bottom flap 48 has one or more rectangular flaps 52 die cut on threesides thereof to form, interlocking means in a manner hereinafterdescribed.

The bottom flap 49 has a number of interlocking tab means 53carved'therefrom to register with and correspond to the number of flaps52 formed in the bottom flap 48 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed,'eacl1 interlocking tab 53 having a hook-shaped free end 54.

The means for forming the hopper portion 29 of the carton is integrallyinterconnected to the blank 32 and comprises a bottom flap 55 foldablyconnected to the bottom edged the wall 36 at a score or fold line 56 andhas its outer free end foldably connected to a front panel 57 of thehopper means 29 at a score or fold line 58.

The bottom wall flap 55 is relieved at 59 to accommodate theinterlocking means 52 and 53 in a manner hereinafter described.

A pair of like side panels 69 and 61 are respectively foldablyconnectedto side edges. of the front panel 57 of the hopper means 29 atscore or fold lines 62 and 63, each side panel 60 or 61 having anarcuate upper surface 64 terminating in an outwardly directed car 65 fora purpose hereinafter described. However, the edges 64 need not bearcuate as the same may be' chords of the arcs illustrated or anythingbetween the chords and arcs as desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that the container blank 32 of this inventioncan be formed in a relatively simple manner by utilizing conventionaldie cutting and die scoring means.

While the blank 32 of this invention can be folded in any desiredsequence to form the container 20 of this invention, one such method isillustrated in FIGURE 6 wherein the side walls 33-36 have been formed intubular form by the interconnecting flap 49 in the manner previouslydescribed whereby the bottom wall means of the container 20 can beformed by first folding inwardly the bottom flap 48 across the bottom ofthe container 20 and, thereafter, folding the bottom flap 55 of thehopper means 29 against the bottom flap 48 as illustrated in FIGURE 6.The remainingbottom flap 49 can then be folded against the bottom flap55 to cause the interlocking tabs 53 thereof to register with the flaps52 of the bottom flap 48 as provided by the cut-away portion 59 of thebottom flap 55.

The bottom flap 49 is adapted to lock the bottom flaps 48, 49 and 55together by having the interlocking tabs 53 thereof project upwardlythrough openings 66 formed in the bottom flap 48 by the tab means 52thereof, the hook-shaped ends 54 of the interlocking flaps 53mechanically locking in the resulting openings 66 as illustrated inFIGURE 4.

Therefore, it can be seen that the bottom wall means 25 of the container2t of this invention can also be formed by mechanical locking means.

However, the bottom Wall means 25 of this invention can be formed in anyother desired manner, such as by utilizing a suitable adhesive or thelike whereby the mechanical locking means previously described can beeliminated.

After the bottom wall means 25 has been formed in the above manner, theside panels 69 and 61 of the hopper means 29 can be folded toward eachother at angles of 66 or less to the panel 57 and, thereafter, movedthrough the opening 27 in the front side wall 21 to permit the hoppermeans 29 to be disposed in the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 1whereby the front panel 57 completely fills the opening 27 and isdisposed flush with the front side wall means 21 while the side panels61 and 61 will be held in the proper position against the walls 33 and35 by the articles subsequently disposed in the container 2%.

Thereafter, the desired articles can be packaged in the container 20through the opened upper end thereof and the top wall means 26 can beformed in the conventional manner to completely close the container 29.

Subsequently, a suitable sleeve, such as the overwrap 31, is disposedaround the container 20 to hold the hopper means 29 in its closedposition whereby the completed container 20 can be shipped and stored.

When the user of the container 24) desires to have the hopper means 29disposed in its opened dispensing position, the overwrap 31 is removedand the front panel 57 of the hopper means 29 is pulled outwardlywhereby the same moves about its hinged connection at the bottom wallmeans 25 and causes the side panels and 61 to move outwardly therewithuntil the. cars of the side panels 60 and 61 abut against the edge 23 ofthe front side wall means 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 toprevent further opening of the hopper means 29.

By this opening of the hopper means 29, the articles disposed in thecompartment 30 of the container 20 will fill the opened hopper means 29so that the same can be readily viewed and dispensed through. the openhopper means 29.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improvedcontainer having a dispensing hopper means as wellas provides animproved blank for making such a contamer or the like.

Another container of this invention is generally indicated by thereference numeral 67 in FIGURES 7 and 8 and parts thereof similar to thecontainer 20 previously described are indicated by like referencenumerals followed by the reference letter a.

For example, the container 67 is substantially rectangular and isdefined by side wall means 21a, 22a, 2351 and 24a, bottom wall means 25aand top wall means 26a, the front side wall means 21ahaving an opening27a provided therein adjacent the bottom wall means 25a and being openedand closed by a hopper means 29a in the manner previously described.

While the container 67 of this invention is substantially similar to thecontainer 29 and operates in the same manner as previously described,the container 67 of this invention is formed from another improvedcontainer blank of this invention that is generally indicated by thereference numeral 68 in FIGURE 10. As illustrated in FIGURE 10, thecontainer blank 68 is suitably cut and scored to define a series offoldably connected walls 69, 70, 71 and 72 respectively foldablyconnected together at score 01' fold lines 73, '74 and 75, the walls 69,70, 71 and 72 respectively forming the side, wall means 230, 22a, 21aand 24a of the container 67.

An interconnecting fiap 76 is foldably connected to the free edge of thewall 69 at a score or fold line 77, the interconnecting fiap 76functioning in the same manner as the interconnecting flap 49 previouslydescribed.

A plurality of top closure flaps 73, 79 and $9 are respectively foldablyconnected to the top edges of the walls 71 and 72 at a score or foldline 81, the top flaps 78, 79 and 8t cooperating in the same manner asthe top flaps 42, 43 and 44 previously described to form the top wallmeans 25a of the container 67.

A pair of bottom flaps 32 and 83 are respectively foldaoly connected tothe bottom edges of the walls es and 72 at the score or fold lines 84and 85, the bottom flap 33 having one or more rectangular flaps 86 diecut on three sides for the same purpose as the fiaps 52 previouslydescribed, while the bottom flap 3?. has a cut-away portion 37 for apurpose hereinafter described.

The hopper means 29a of the container 67 is formed integrally with theblank 68 and comprises a bottom flap 83 foldably connected to the bottomedge of the wall 7% at a score or fold line 39 and having its side edgefoldably connected to a front panel 99 of the hopper means 29a at ascore or fold line 91, the bottom ilap 83 having a plurality ofinterlocking tabs 92 carved therefrom to cooperate with the flaps 86 inthe same manner as the interlocking tabs 53 previously described.

A pair of like side panels 93 and 94 are respectively foldably connectedto side edges of the front panel of the hopper means 29a, at score orfold lines 95 and 96, the like side panels 93 and 94 respectively havingarcuate upper edges 97 terminating in outwardly directed ears 9E5.However, the edges 97 need not be arcuate as the same may be chords ofthe arcs illustrated or anything between the chords and arcs as desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that the container blank 68 of this inventioncan also be simply die cut and die scored in the same manner as thecontainer blank 32 previously described.

While the container blank 68 can be folded in any desired sequence toform the container 7 of this invention, one method is illustrated inFIGURE 11, wherein the side walls 6972 have been formed in therectangular and tubular form by being interconnected together by theinterconnecting flap 76 in the manner previously described.

Thereafter, the bottom wall means 25a of the container 67 is formed byfirst folding inwardly the bottom flap 83 across the bottom of thecontainer 67 and, thereafter, folding inwardly the bottom flap 82against the bottom flap 83, whereby the cut-away portion 87 of thebottom flap 32 registers with the tab means 86 of the bottom flap 83.

Subsequently, the bottom flap 88 of the hopper means 29a is foldedagainst the bottom flap 82 in the manner illustrated in FTGURE 11,whereby the interlocking tabs 92 thereof are adapted to interlock in theresulting openings in the bottom flap 83 in the manner previouslydescribed, so that the bottom flaps 82, 88 and 83 are mechanicallylocked together and form the bottom Wall means 25a of the container 67.

Thereafter, the side panels 93 and of the hopper means 29 are movedthrough the opening 27a of the front side wall means 21a of thecontainer 67 in the manner previously described for the panels 60 and 61of the container 20 to permit the front panel 913 to close the opening27a in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.

When the hopper means 29a is opened by moving the front panel 919 of thehopper means 29a outwardly, the side panels 93 and 94 are drawnoutwardly therewith until the ears 9% thereof engage against the insidesurface of the front side wall means 21a in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 9, whereby it can be seen that the container 67 of this inventionoperates in the same manner as the container 2% previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides improvedcontainers each having dispensing hopper means for attractivelydisplaying and dispensing the contents of the containers.

Further, this invention provides improved blanks for forming suchcontainers or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A container comprising a plurality of wall means including top andbottom walls defining an article-receiving compartment therebetween, oneof said wall means having an opening provided therein and interconnectedto said compartment, said opening extending from the bottom Wall meansto an edge of said one wall means spaced from the top wall means, saidbottom Wall means including three panels disposed in stacked relationand spanning the bottom of said container, and a hopper means foropening and closing said opening, said hopper means being hinged to oneof said three panels, the inner and outermost panels having meansinterconnecting the same together, the middle panel having an openingpassing therethrough and through which said interconnecting means pass.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hopper means ishinged to said middle panel.

3. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hopper means ishinged to said outermost panel.

4. A blank for forming a container having a hopper means comprising aplurality of foldably connected walls for forming said container, threeof said walls being adapted to be disposed in stacked relation and spanthe bottom of said container to form the bottom Wall means of saidcontainer, and a hopper structure foldably connected to one of saidthree walls, the inner and outermost walls of said three walls havingmeans for interconnecting the same together, the middle wall of saidthree Walls having an opening passing therethrough and through whichsaid interconnecting means can pass.

5. A blank as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hopper structure ishinged to said middle wall of said three walls.

6. A blank as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hopper structure ishinged to said outermost wall of said three walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,804 11/11Sugarman. 1,546,600 7/25 Morris 222-531 2,320,665 6/43 Shearer.2,684,792 7/54 Kraus 222 457 2,886,232 5/59 Leone 222457X 3,133,689 5/64Rossi 229 17 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

4. A BLANK FOR FORMING A CONTAINER HAVING A HOPPER MEANS COMPRISING APLURALITY OF FOLDABLE CONNECTED WALLS FOR FORMING SAID CONTAINER, THREEOF SAID WALLS BEING ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN STACKED RELATION AND SPANTHE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER TO FORM THE BOTTOM WALL MEANS OF SAIDCONTAINER, AND A HOPPER STRUCTURE FOLDABLE CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAIDTHREE WALLS, THE INNER AN OUTERMOST WALLS OF SAID THREE WALLS HAVINGMEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING THE SAME TOGETHER, THE MIDDLE WALL OF SAIDTHREE WALLS HAVING AN OPENING PASSING THERETHROUGH AND THROUGH WHICHSAID INTERCONNECTING MEANS CAN PASS.